How much is reasonable to spend on holidays vs income ?

[holidayprince]

How do you calculate how much you can spend on holidays vs your monthly income for example ?

I'm having a debate with H about it and no matter how much we spend, for him, it's always a waste when it's spent on a holiday. He thinks is frivolous.

If you spend say half a monthly pay cheque on a holiday, is that too much ?

Do you save up a long time to go on holiday ?

Just wondering because to me it isn't money wasted to make memories with your family.

I know holidays are expensive but we have savings as well as investments and aren't spending more than half of what we make a month on a holiday, so I don't see a problem with having a nice time with your family once a year.

My DH has always been this way about holidays.

It's not really a common scenario. Most people getting UC are struggling.

I've read that thread. Entirely different scenario. She has 3 children and no job, and a landlord charging a ridiculous amount of rent. I have 1 kid, a job (UC is more generous for workers) and low rent.

I think this is sadly very true. It is frightening

'Most people' = not you

Nobody who is sitting on a 6k holiday is 'struggling'

Which is why I said most people. I didn't say me.

So why are you claiming UC then? Other than to maintain a lifestyle beyond your means?

@Bunnygirl1902 scamming the system is pretending you are disabled when you are not. It's going to great lengths and employing unscrupulous Financial Advisors to avoid paying tax. It's pretending you live separately to your partner.

@Beezknees is legally claiming a benefit which the system has deemed her to be eligible for. The Government decides this. The Tories made a big thing about rewarding hard work which is probably why she is eligible for more than the mum you are referring to who is unemployed.

Maybe you could start a campaign group to change the benefits system instead of laying into individuals.

Because I am eligible for it based on being a lone parent and a low earner. I don't believe that anybody wouldn't claim if they could.

As I said in previous post I wouldn't just purely out of pride and self worth. I don't need charity. If I want something I'll work for it.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

@HappierTimesAhead bit of a difference though- the tax and NI they are paying on 2 £60 k incomes will be way way above what they are getting in child benefit - so they are are putting in to the system in a positive direction rather than taking out the system or at best - a neutral situation -

Right, well it's not for you to decide though. I'm not going to stop claiming because some stranger thinks I shouldn't!

@Bunnygirl1902 do you get child benefit?

I do not no. I have never claimed any benefit

It would be pretty foolish not to claim a benefit you are eligible for. In fact it would be bad financial planning! Are all the couples earning £60,000 each foregoing their child benefit? (The answer is no, claims are up 16% since the Tories upped hoe much people van earning before being eligible)

My income is £26 500 a year 1 adult and 1 teen and I prioritise holidays. Spend about £3000-4000 a year on holidays and day trips. But I totally cut back everywhere else and cook from scratch, buy bulk deals etc. I have raised 4 kids and all of them talk very fondly of their holidays whether they were camping or on an all inclusive or in a villa for a big family bash.

@Bunnygirl1902 do you have kids?

It is not for me to decide no.

'I don't believe that anybody wouldn't claim if they could.'

No many people wouldn't claim 'just because they can'. As I said in previous replies many people have a sense of self worth and pride and therefore wouldn't. We clearly have very different morals and are never going to reach a mutual opinion on this matter.

I can’t pretend I fully approve beezkneez BUT it is definitely better than spending it on drugs and alcohol and I’m sure a fair bit goes that way for many.

I don't see the point in struggling unnecessarily out of a sense of "pride". Just seems counterproductive to me. Raising a child alone with no help from the father is hard work enough. But yes we'll have to agree to disagree.

@Beezknees I really wouldn't rise to it. They haven't even been in that situation, saying they wouldn't claim a benefit they're entitled to, it's BS.

Maybe not that helpful of an answer from me but, we’ve never thought about it in that way, ie “calculating” how much we spend on a holiday based on our income, ie a holiday costing around half a months wages.

We just have a savings acc for important stuff and a savings acc for fun stuff, and when it comes to booking a holiday we think about what vibe we want (UK, European city break, summer beach hol) then look at how much money we’ve got and then work it out from there. We’re saving for a house so don’t have loads of “fun” money this year so just did a little UK break over Easter, last year we went to Brussels for a few days but the year before we did two weeks in Portugal. It just depends what we can afford at the time I guess!

Ultimately though, I just wanted to say I’m with you- I think holidays and getting away for a few days each year is important, whereas my boyfriend is much keener on saving and could easily not go away if I didn’t push for it 🤣